When to go · Month by month
Bali in December: weather, crowds, prices and what to know
December has two faces. Until mid-December, the island is calm, green and affordable, despite already abundant rain. Then Christmas and New Year make the end of the month one of the busiest and most expensive periods of the year. A month in which you choose your dates carefully, and book early if you are aiming for the holidays.
- Updated on
- Verdict: rainy
- 6 min read
- By Kylian Dev
Contents
The month at a glance
- Temperatures: 30.8 °C average high, 27.9 °C mean, 25.3 °C average low (1991–2020 normals, Ngurah Rai airport).
- Rain: 299.3 mm on average over the month, spread over 15.9 rainy days.
- Crowds: light at the start of the month, very heavy from Christmas to New Year with French, European and Australian school holidays.
- Verdict: the best month for a green island at a good price at the start of the month; for the holidays, book months in advance and accept the rain.
Should you come to Bali in December? Yes, if you choose your dates well. It rains a lot, 299.3 mm over 15.9 days on average, with 30.8 °C in the afternoon. The first half of the month is calm and affordable; from Christmas to New Year, crowds and prices reach their peak.
In December, the rainy season is well established, but the crowds do not follow the weather: they follow the holiday calendar. Our best time to visit Bali guide details what changes in the rainy season; this page focuses on what is specific to December.
December weather, in figures
December receives on average 299.3 mm of rain over 15.9 days at the airport, twice as much as in November. Temperatures remain stable, from 25.3 °C at night to 30.8 °C in the afternoon, with high humidity. Sunshine is not published for this month.
| Normal | November | December (this month) | January |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average high | 31.6 °C | 30.8 °C | 30.9 °C |
| Mean temperature | 28.1 °C | 27.9 °C | 27.9 °C |
| Average low | 25.3 °C | 25.3 °C | 25.1 °C |
| Rain | 149.4 mm | 299.3 mm | 388.4 mm |
| Rainy days | 10.3 | 15.9 | 18.8 |
| Sunshine | not published | not published | 197.0 h |
Mornings often stay clear or hazy. The showers, heavy, tend to fall in the afternoon and evening, but spells of overcast skies and continuous rain for several days are frequent. Ubud, the center and the north get more rain than the south; Amed remains one of the driest coasts.
November received 149.4 mm over 10.3 days; January, the wettest month, climbs to 388.4 mm over 18.8 days. December is the start of the heart of the rainy season.
| Month | High °C | Rain mm | Days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: Bali in January | 30.9 | 388.4 | 18.8 | Rainy |
| February: Bali in February | 30.9 | 298.7 | 16.5 | Rainy |
| March: Bali in March | 31.0 | 213.9 | 13.3 | Transition |
| April: Bali in April | 31.0 | 114.5 | 8.8 | Compromise |
| May: Bali in May | 30.5 | 72.8 | 6.5 | Balanced |
| June: Bali in June | 29.8 | 50.8 | 4.7 | Dry |
| July: Bali in July | 29.0 | 29.7 | 3.3 | Crowded |
| August: Bali in August | 29.1 | 16.1 | 1.9 | Crowded |
| September: Bali in September | 30.0 | 40.7 | 2.8 | Dry |
| October: Bali in October | 31.0 | 67.9 | 4.8 | Favorable |
| November: Bali in November | 31.6 | 149.4 | 10.3 | Transition |
| DecemberThis page | 30.8 | 299.3 | 15.9 | Rainy |
What December changes on the ground
The sea is often rough in the west, and the beaches on this coast receive litter. The rice fields are flooded or bright green depending on the valley. The volcanoes are often in the clouds. Slippery roads, streets flooded in places during storms, powerful waterfalls.
- Swimming: stronger waves and currents on the west coast, from Kuta to Canggu, where the sea often washes up litter in the rainy season. Sanur and Amed are calmer.
- Snorkeling and diving: variable visibility; Amed and Tulamben remain the safest options. Crossings to Nusa Penida are sometimes cancelled.
- Surf: it is the east coast’s season, from Keramas to the Sanur reefs; the Bukit is more irregular.
- Rice fields: flooding, young plants and bright green depending on the subak, with beautiful reflections in the terraces.
- Hikes: Batur possible with no guarantee of a view; Agung is not recommended in the rainy season. Walks are done early.
- Roads and waterfalls: slippery roads and traffic jams in the south during the holidays. Spectacular waterfalls, access sometimes closed after heavy rain.
Crowds and prices in December
Until mid-December, Bali is in low season: few people, prices at the bottom of the annual range. From the Christmas holidays, around December 20, until New Year, visitor numbers and prices climb to the highest of the year, particularly in the south and in Ubud.
French school Christmas holidays coincide with Australian summer holidays and year-end leave in Asia. Many hotels impose a minimum stay and special rates for the evening of December 31. Book accommodation and flights months in advance; drivers and New Year’s Eve tables too.
To estimate the gap between the start and the end of the month, see the Bali travel budget guide and the budget calculator.
December events
Christmas and New Year are the big December events for visitors, with New Year’s Eve parties and fireworks in the south. As Bali is mostly Hindu, Christmas stays discreet outside the hotels. Galungan and Kuningan fall in December in some years, according to the Balinese calendar.
On the night of the 31st, the roads of Seminyak, Canggu and Kuta are saturated: plan to stay on foot near your accommodation. During Galungan, if it falls that month, the streets are adorned with penjor. Their meaning is explained in Balinese temples and culture.
What to do in Bali in December
Choose bases where the rain is little nuisance: the calm sea and promenade of Sanur, the rice fields and culture of Ubud, diving in Amed. For the holidays, New Year’s Eve in the south or in Ubud, keeping journeys on the evening of the 31st to a minimum.
- Sanur: a family base, a sea protected by the reef, a coastal promenade, easy access to the airport. See Sanur.
- Ubud: flooded rice fields at dawn, temples, dances, cooking classes. See Ubud.
- Amed: snorkeling and diving on the driest coast, far from the holiday bustle.
- Canggu: New Year’s Eve and nightlife for those who want to celebrate, to book early.
Who December is the right month for
Early December suits small budgets and flexible travelers; the end of the month suits families tied to the Christmas holidays, provided they book early. December suits hikers, divers aiming for Nusa Penida and those fleeing holiday crowds less well.
Families
The Christmas holidays often impose the end of the month: book early, choose Sanur or Ubud and plan sheltered activities.
Surfers
East coast season, around Keramas. Beginners find waves in Kuta and Canggu.
Divers
Amed and Tulamben remain the most reliable; Nusa Penida depends on the sea.
Hikers
Low-altitude walks in the rice fields; volcanoes often covered.
Small budgets
Aim for the first half of the month: low prices and availability. Avoid the holiday period.
Honeymoon
A villa in Ubud at the start of the month is a good option; for the holidays, book months in advance.
The 10-day itinerary combines Ubud and the coast. To go from the interior to the west coast, see the Ubud → Canggu transfer, and the packing list for the rainy season.
Frequently asked questions
Should you come to Bali in December?
Yes, by choosing your dates: the first half of the month is calm and affordable, the period from Christmas to New Year very busy and expensive. In both cases, it rains often.
What is the weather like in Bali in December?
Hot and humid: 30.8 °C average high, 25.3 °C average low, 299.3 mm of rain over 15.9 days on average at the airport.
Is December the rainy season in Bali?
Yes. The rainy season runs from about November to March; December marks the start of its heart, before January, the wettest month.
Should you book early for Christmas and New Year in Bali?
Yes. Accommodation, flights and drivers fill up months in advance for late December, and many hotels impose a minimum stay.
Where to stay in Bali in December?
Sanur for a calm sea and a family base, Ubud for the rice fields and sheltered activities, Amed for diving. Canggu if you come for New Year’s Eve.
Sources
Figures and rules checked on October 17, 2026 against the sources below. Entry rules and fees change: always check them on the official websites before you leave.
